Forgiveness

Recently, as I was praying, a thought came to mind of someone who had hurt me many, many years ago and I hadn’t remembered this person for years. I recognized this had come up for me to address, heal and release. I was led to study the story of Joseph in the Bible who was sold into slavery by his brothers, later imprisoned for a false allegation, but ended up being second to Pharoah for interpreting a dream for him. He endured many hardships but remained loyal to God. Genesis 45:8 reads, “Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.” That was what he told his brothers when he saw them years later.

Joseph could have been filled with such hatred and bitterness, that he would have remained stuck forever. He chose to continue to have faith and follow God and surely, this must have been difficult at times. This was an answer to a prayer that I was not aware I was praying, but it definitely needed to be handled. When we have hatred in our hearts, we are the only one harmed. Today, I will actively pray to love everyone!